Shropshire

Shropshire's population expanded in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, ethnicity and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 310,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Shropshire increased by 8.1%, from just over 283,000 to 306,000.

The addition of just under 23,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Shropshire was home to, on average, 0.69 people per football pitch-sized piece of land. This made it the West Midlands' second-least densely-populated unitary authority.

Population density was lower than the average across the West Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the West Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Shropshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Shropshire increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than the West Midlands and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 11,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 7,000.

About 14% of people in Shropshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Shropshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

Shropshire saw the West Midlands' second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

In 2011, just over one in nine (12%) people aged 16 and over in Shropshire said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 9.7% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 56% to 52%.

Across the region, only Staffordshire Moorlands saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner (from 8.8% to 11%).

Every local authority area across the West Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner, as the regional average grew from 10% to 11%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Shropshire

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 23% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 23% in 2001

The number of people in Shropshire that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 35,000 in 2001 to just under 70,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 12% to 23% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the West Midlands (from 12% to 22%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Shropshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 230,000 in 2001 to about 210,000 in 2011 (from 80% to 69%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from about 20,000 to just over 22,000 (from 7.1% to 7.3%).

Just over 1,100 people (0.2%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 630 in 2001 (0.4%).

The population without a religion in Shropshire increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Shropshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Shropshire

The percentage of Shropshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.0% to 3.7% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 13 (7.5%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.6% in 2001. The percentage of Shropshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 3.5% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Shropshire

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 98% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 98% in 2001

The number of people in Shropshire from the White ethnic groups increased from just under 280,000 in 2001 to just under 300,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 98%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the West Midlands (from 89% to 83%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Shropshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just under 1,600 in 2001 to just under 3,100 in 2011 (from 0.6% to 1.0%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 1,200 to just under 2,200 (from 0.4% to 0.7%).

About 580 people (0.1%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 340 in 2001 (0.2%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Shropshire remained close to 98%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Shropshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Shropshire, but at a slower rate than in Telford and Wrekin (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Shropshire).

In Shropshire, the proportion of private renting increased from 11% in 2001 to 15% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Telford and Wrekin increased from 7.0% to 15%.

Across the West Midlands, the share of privately rented homes increased from 7.3% to 14%.

The rate of social housing in Shropshire fell from 14% to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 72% to 69%.

Private renting in Shropshire increased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Shropshire, the West Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Shropshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.5% to 5.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (81%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Shropshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 22% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 9.7% in 2001 to 6.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Shropshire decreased by 3.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Shropshire, the West Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Shropshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 13% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 13% in 2001 to 9.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Shropshire decreased by 3.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Shropshire, the West Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Shropshire with children decreased from 28% to 26% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (64%) households had no children, compared with 62% in 2001. The percentage of households in Shropshire with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.7% to 9.9%.

The proportion of households with children fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 31% in 2001 to 30% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Shropshire, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.6% to 8.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over one in three (36%) households had a married couple, compared with 41% in 2001. The percentage of households in Shropshire, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.0% to 10%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 10% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the West Midlands

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Shropshire residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.3% between the last two censuses.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.9%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Shropshire remained close to 1.3%

Percentage of usual residents in England, West Midlands and Shropshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

The percentage of Shropshire residents that were employed remained close to 53% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.3%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were unemployed, compared with 2.5% in 2001. While the percentage of Shropshire residents that were self-employed increased from 12% to 13%.

The proportion of employed people increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the West Midlands (from 52% in 2001 to 51% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 53% to 52%.

The rate of employment was higher than across the West Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the West Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

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